Back Channel Negotiation : Secrecy in the Middle East Peace Process

Anthony Wanis-St John

ISBN 10: 0815632754 / ISBN 13: 9780815632757

Published by Syracuse University Press Jan 2011, 2011

About this Item

Neuware - Wanis-St. John takes on the question of whether the complex and often perilous, secret negotiations between mediating parties prove to be an instrumental path to reconciliation or rather one that disrupts the process. Using the Palestinian-Israeli peace process as a frame-work, the author focuses on the uses and misuses of 'back channel' negotiations. Wanis-St. John discusses how top level PLO and Israeli government officials often resorted to secret negotiation channels even when they had designated, acknowledged negotiation teams already at work. Intense scrutiny of the media, pressure from con-stituents, and the public's reaction, all become severe constraints to the process, causing leaders to seek out back channel negotiations. The impact of these secret talks on the peace process over time has largely been unexplored. Through interviews with major negotia-tors and policymakers on both sides and a detailed history of the conflict, the author analyzes the functions and consequences of back channel negotiations. Wanis-St. John reveals the painful irony that these methods for peacemaking have had the unintended effect of inflaming the conflict and sustaining its intractability.

Seller Inventory # 9780815632757

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Back Channel Negotiation : Secrecy in the Middle East Peace Process
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press Jan 2011
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0815632754
• ISBN 13: 9780815632757
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 235W x 157H x 26D millimeters 235 millimeters width by 157 millimeters height by 26 millimeters depth
• Weight: 753 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Wanis-St. John takes on the question of whether the complex and often perilous, secret negotiations between mediating parties prove to be an instrumental path to reconciliation or rather one that disrupts the process. Using the Palestinian-Israeli peace process as a frame­work, the author focuses on the uses and misuses of "back channel" negotiations. Wanis-St. John discusses how top level PLO and Israeli government officials often resorted to secret negotiation channels even when they had designated, acknowledged negotiation teams already at work. Intense scrutiny of the media, pressure from con­stituents, and the public’s reaction, all become severe constraints to the process, causing leaders to seek out back channel negotiations. The impact of these secret talks on the peace process over time has largely been unexplored. Through interviews with major negotia­tors and policymakers on both sides and a detailed history of the conflict, the author analyzes the functions and consequences of back channel negotiations. Wanis-St. John reveals the painful irony that these methods for peacemaking have had the unintended effect of inflaming the conflict and sustaining its intractability.

About the Author

Anthony Wanis-St. John is assistant professor at American University in Washington, D.C. He is an advisor to the United States Institute of Peace and has consulted with the World Bank. He has facilitated several workshops for Palestinian and Israeli official negotiation staff and advisors.